NEA Rescue Plan Grants to Organizations & Grants to Local Arts Agencies for Subgranting NOFOs and Instructions

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(ARTS.GOV GRANTS LANDING PAGE BLURB)
American Rescue Plan
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“Rescue Plan”) is designed to fuel the nation’s
recovery from the devastating economic and health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Funds allocated to the National Endowment for the Arts (“Arts Endowment”) in this
historic legislation represent a significant commitment to the arts and a recognition of the
value of the arts and culture sector to the nation’s economy and recovery.
The Arts Endowment will competitively award Rescue Plan funds to eligible
organizations nationwide. These funds are intended to help support jobs in the arts
sector, keep the doors open to arts organizations nationwide, and assist the field in its
response to and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Unlike other Arts Endowment funding programs that offer project-based support, Rescue
Plan funds are intended to support specific operating costs only. Cost share/matching
funds are not required.
The Arts Endowment intends to make awards that will impact a broad constituency. We
encourage applications from a variety of eligible organizations including: organizations
that serve populations that are underserved such as those whose opportunities to
experience the arts are limited by ethnicity, economics, geography, or disability;
organizations with small and medium-sized budgets; organizations from rural to urban
communities; and applications from organizations that may be applying for federal
support through the Arts Endowment for the first time.
Rescue Plan funding is available through two separate competitive opportunities:
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Grants to Organizations LINK
Grants to Local Arts Agencies for Subgranting LINK

NOTE: Eligible local arts agencies may apply to the Grants to Organizations program for
general operating support OR to the Grants to Local Arts Agencies for Subgranting
program.
Rescue Plan funds will also be awarded by the Arts Endowment to the nation’s
designated state and jurisdictional arts agencies (SAAs) and their regional arts
organizations (RAOs) to distribute around the country. Contact your SAA or RAO for
more information.
We understand that applying for federal funding and managing a grant can be a
significant undertaking. Our staff strives to ensure that all applicants receive the support
they need to understand every step of the process. We welcome the opportunity to
speak with you about this program. Contact us with your questions.

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Grants to Local Arts Agencies for Subgranting Left Sidebar Links:
Program Description
Application Calendar
Award Information
Eligibility
How to Apply
Application Review
Award Administration
Contact Us
American Rescue Plan
Grants to Local Arts Agencies for Subgranting
Program Description
The Rescue Plan’s Grants to Local Arts Agencies for Subgranting program recognizes
the central role that local arts agencies play in supporting artists, enhancing the quality of
life in their communities, and increasing public access to the arts. Local arts agencies
are valued partners of the Arts Endowment, greatly extending our reach and impact to
assist communities respond to the economic and health effects of the COVID-19
pandemic.
The Arts Endowment will competitively award funds to designated local arts agencies for
subgranting programs. To be eligible to subgrant, a designated local arts agency must
have a history of grantmaking that occurred anytime within the ten-year period
immediately preceding this program’s application deadline (i.e., TBD to present). The
grantmaking program is not required to have been supported by the Arts Endowment.
See Eligibility LINK for more information.
Eligible local arts agencies may apply for subgranting activities through this program OR
to the Rescue Plan’s Grants to Organizations LINK program for general operating
support. We also encourage local arts agencies to contact their SAA or RAO for other
Rescue Plan funding opportunities.
We recognize that the financial needs of the field far outweigh the available funds that
will be awarded through this program. We anticipate making approximately 100 awards
in this category and encourage applicants to select a grant amount that is reflective of
their own internal capacity and the impact the funds will have in their local community.
There is no pre-determined number of awards per grant amount. Grants will NOT be
awarded on a “first come, first served” basis. See Award Information LINK for more
information.
We intend to make awards that will impact a broad constituency, and encourage
applications from a variety of eligible organizations including:

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Organizations that serve populations that are underserved such as those whose
opportunities to experience the arts are limited by ethnicity, economics,
geography, or disability.
Organizations with small and medium-sized budgets.
Organizations from rural to urban communities.
Organizations that may be applying for federal support through the Arts
Endowment for the first time.

The Arts Endowment is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and fostering mutual
respect for the diverse beliefs and values of all individuals and groups, including:
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Historically Black Colleges and Universities,

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Tribal Colleges and Universities,

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American Indian and Alaska Native tribes,

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African American Serving Institutions,

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Hispanic Serving Institutions,

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Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, and

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Organizations that support the independence and lifelong inclusion of people with
disabilities.

Proposals may focus on reaching a particular constituency; however, they may not be
exclusionary under national civil rights laws and policies prohibiting discrimination. This
extends to hiring practices and audience engagement activities.
Subgranting Funds
Eligible designated local arts agencies may request a fixed grant amount of $150,000,
$250,000, or $500,000 for subgranting programs. When choosing a grant amount, local
arts agencies should consider factors such as their organizational capacity and mission,
potential applicant pool, and any unique characteristics of their communities.
Cost share/matching funds are not required. Similarly, subgrants awarded as a result of
this program do not require a cost share/match.
A subgranting relationship exists when Arts Endowment grant funds received by a local
arts agency are then regranted by the local arts agency to subgrantees for activities
conducted independently of the local arts agency. See the Subgranting Terms and
Conditions resource for important information on the definition of subgranting, and
requirements for subgrantee eligibility.
Subgranting programs may be existing or new; however, they must be consistent with
the purpose and requirements of the Grants to Local Arts Agencies for Subgranting
program as described below.

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Subgrants to Organizations:
Subgranting support by local arts agencies to eligible subgrantee organizations is limited
to any or all of the following costs:
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Salary support, full or partial, for one or more staff positions.
Fees/stipends for artists and/or contractual personnel only in support of services
they provide for specific activities in support of your organization’s day to day
operations.
Facilities costs such as mortgage principal, rent, and utilities.
Costs associated with health and safety supplies for staff and/or
visitors/audiences (e.g., personal protective equipment, cleaning supplies, hand
sanitizer, etc.).
Marketing and promotion costs.

Rescue Plan funds may be used by an organization to support existing jobs, new jobs, or
to restore jobs that were furloughed or eliminated due to the pandemic.
Subgrants to Individual Artists:
If your local arts agency (or organization) is allowed to make direct awards to individuals,
subgrants may be awarded to individuals for artist fees/stipends to support the services
they provide for specific programs and activities. Such awards to individuals may include
providing presentations, workshops, research, and/or the creation of artwork with
tangible outcomes required by the subaward. This is a considered a stipend to the artist
for the work undertaken and completed consistent with the programmatic objectives of
the subgranting agency. (See the Subgranting Terms & Conditions for more information).
Support to individuals may not include honorifics or fellowships, or other forms of funding
for financial hardship, including but not limited to rent or food assistance or the general
operating expenses of individual artists.
The Arts Endowment does not fund direct grants to individuals.
Local Arts Agency Operating Costs
Out of the Arts Endowment’s fixed-amount grant, applicants may request up to $50,000
to support their own eligible operating costs associated with administering the
subgranting program.
Allowable costs are limited to any or all of the following:
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•
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Salary support, full or partial, for one or more staff positions.
Fees/stipends for contractual personnel to support the services they provide for
specific activities in support of your organization’s day to day activities.
Facilities costs such as mortgage principal, rent, and utilities.

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Costs associated with health and safety supplies for staff and/or
visitors/audiences (e.g., personal protective equipment, cleaning supplies, hand
sanitizer, etc.).
Costs associated with marketing, promotion, and applicant/grantee technical
assistance.

Rescue Plan funds may be used by an organization to support existing jobs, new jobs, or
to restore jobs that were furloughed or eliminated due the pandemic.
Grantees will be required to report on funding received through this program. See Award
Administration LINK for more information.
We understand that applying for federal funding and managing a grant can be a
significant undertaking. Our staff strives to ensure that every applicant receives the
support they need to understand every step of the process. We welcome the opportunity
to speak with you about this program. Contact us with your questions.

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Application Calendar
Part 1 - Submit to Grants.gov

TBD

Prepare application material so that it’s ready to upload when the Applicant Portal
opens
Part 2 - Submit to Applicant Portal

TBD

Earliest Announcement of Grant Award or Rejection

TBD

Earliest Beginning Date for National Endowment for the Arts
Period of Performance

TBD

Before submitting to Grants.gov, your organization must register or renew/verify its
registration with both Grants.gov and the System for Award Management (SAM). These
registrations can take several weeks.
NOTE: To help reduce burden, there will be a 180-day extension for existing SAM
registrations that have expiration dates ranging between April 1, 2021, and September
30, 2021. This effort is intended as relief for those otherwise required to re-register
during that timeframe. This does not impact entities registering with SAM for the first
time. If approved for funding, you must have an active SAM.gov registration in order to
receive an award.
If your organization does not have a SAM registration and you are thinking of applying
for Rescue Plan funds, start the SAM registration process as soon as possible.
See “How to Apply” for more information on SAM and Grants.gov requirements.

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Award Information
Grant Amounts and Matching Funds
Applicants may request a fixed grant amount for: $150,000, $250,000, or $500,000.
Out of that fixed grant amount, applicants may request up to $50,000 to support their
own eligible operating costs associated with administering the subgranting program.
Applications will be reviewed and considered for recommendation at the requested
amount only.
Grants do not require a cost share/match. Similarly, subgrants awarded as a result of
this program do not require a cost share/match.
Because Congress envisioned this aid to support the arts community, grant funds must
be allocated to the arts program/departments/section/office or arts-related activities of
the subgrant recipient.
Period of Performance
The Arts Endowment’s grant support may start on or after TBD. Generally, a grant period
of up to two years is allowed.
Costs that are included as part of your proposal must be incurred during the grant’s
established period of performance. No pre-award costs are allowable in the Project
Budget. Costs that are incurred before the “Earliest Start Date for Proposed Period of
Performance” will be removed from the Project Budget.
A grantee may receive more than one federal grant during overlapping periods of
performance, HOWEVER those grants must cover different costs and/or activities. If
multiple grants are awarded, grantees will be required to keep documentation to show
which employees are being paid from each funding source so that the federal
government isn't paying more than 100 percent of a salary.
Applicant Eligibility
Nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3), U.S. organizations or units of local government may
apply.
Tribal entities and community organizations may be eligible for this grant opportunity if
they meet the eligibility requirements in this section.

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Applicants must be an arts agency (“local arts agency”) that is a unit of city or
county government or be officially designated to operate as an arts agency on
behalf of its local government.

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Non-arts departments of local government (e.g., economic development, parks
and recreation, or planning departments) cannot subgrant and are not eligible to
apply to this program.

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Applicants are required to provide a copy of the current local government
ordinance, resolution, charter, or contract that assigns its organization the
authority to operate on your local government's behalf at the time of application.
This document must be valid and current at the time of application as well as at
the time that a grant is awarded. The document must originate from local
government and may not be from a state arts agency. For organizations with a
multi-city or multi-county service area, designation documentation does not need
to be provided for every governmental entity in your service area. Letters or
emails from a government official do not qualify for the purpose of establishing
eligibility.

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Applicants must have a history of grantmaking that occurred anytime within the
ten-year period immediately preceding this program’s application deadline (i.e.,
TBD to present). The grantmaking program is not required to have been
supported by the Arts Endowment.

In addition to the eligibility requirements described above, the applicant organization
must:
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Meet the Arts Endowment’s Legal Requirements, including nonprofit, tax-exempt
status at the time of application. (All organizations must apply directly on their own
behalf. Applications through a fiscal sponsor/agent are not allowed. See more
information on fiscal sponsors/agents.)

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Have completed a three-year history of arts programming prior to the application
deadline. For this application, grantmaking in the arts is considered to be a type of
“arts programming.” For the purpose of defining eligibility, "three-year history"
refers to when an organization began its programming and not when it
incorporated or received nonprofit, tax-exempt status. Programming is not
required to have taken place during consecutive years.

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Have submitted acceptable Final Report packages by the due date(s) for all Arts
Endowment grant(s) previously received.

If you are a local arts agency that does not meet these requirements, please review the
Rescue Plan’s Grants to Organizations guidelines to see if you are eligible for Rescue
Plan funding through that program.
An organization whose primary purpose is to channel resources (financial, human, or
other) to an affiliated organization is not eligible to apply if the affiliated organization
submits its own application. This prohibition applies even if each organization has its own
501(c)(3) status. For example, the "Friends of ABC Museum" may not apply if the ABC
Museum applies.

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All applicants must have a DUNS number (www.dnb.com) and be registered with the
System for Award Management (SAM, www.sam.gov) at the time of application. The
SAM registration must be current at the time a grant is made and throughout the life of
the award. See Changes Coming for Federal Organizational Applicants and Awardees
for important information.
IMPORTANT: To help reduce burden, there will be a 180-day extension for existing SAM
registrations that have expiration dates ranging between April 1, 2021, and September
30, 2021. This effort is intended as relief for those otherwise required to re-register
during that timeframe. This does not impact entities registering with SAM for the first
time. All organizations approved for funding must have an active SAM.gov registration in
order to receive an award.
Registration with Grants.gov and SAM is always free.
The designated state and jurisdictional arts agencies (SAAs) and their regional arts
organizations (RAOs) are not eligible to apply under these guidelines.
Late, ineligible, and incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Applications
with budgets that do not have costs at least equal to the requested grant amount
will be deemed ineligible and will not be reviewed. Budget costs must be allowable
in order to receive support.

Application Limits
An organization is limited to one application under the Rescue Plan’s Grants to Local
Arts Agencies for Subgranting guidelines.
Eligible organizations that received CARES Act funding from the Arts Endowment, either
to support their own operations or to manage a subgranting program, may apply to the
Rescue Plan’s Grants to Local Arts Agencies for Subgranting program as long as there
are no overlapping costs.
Eligible local arts agencies may apply either to the Rescue Plan’s Grants to Locals Arts
Agencies for Subgranting program OR to the Rescue Plan’s Grants to Organizations
program for general operating support.
You may also apply to other Arts Endowment funding opportunities for which your
organization is eligible, including Grants for Arts Projects. In each case, the applications
cannot have any overlap in costs during the same period of performance. For example,
an orchestra could request support for an arts education coordinator through the Rescue
Plan’s Grants to Organizations program. That same arts education coordinator could
work on programs related to another Arts Endowment grant, as long as the same time
and costs are not charged to both awards.
Exceptions to the one-application rule are made only for parent organizations applying
on behalf of one or more, separately identifiable and independent components. Grant

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funds can only support eligible costs incurred by the smaller entity/independent
component.
Parent (and Related) Organizations
A parent organization that comprises separately identifiable and independent
components (e.g., a university campus that has a presenting organization and a radio
station) may submit an application for each such component. In addition, a parent
organization also may submit one application on its own behalf as long as the proposal is
different from the proposal(s) submitted by its independent component(s).
An eligible independent component must be a unit that is both programmatically and
administratively distinct from the parent organization. This independent status is
demonstrated by the component’s:
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Unique mission, separate and distinct from the parent entity;
Separate, dedicated staff, with duties specific to the mission of the component;
Independent board, mostly consisting of members not associated with the parent
entity and generally functioning with substantial oversight and management of the
component;
Separate budget, maintained by the component; and
Three-year history of arts programming undertaken by the component.

To qualify as an eligible independent component, it should be equivalent to a standalone institution.
A parent organization should consult with our staff to verify the eligibility of its component
before preparing an application. If an application is submitted by a parent organization on
behalf of a component that is determined by the Arts Endowment not to be independent
and separate from the parent organization, then that application may be allowed as the
parent’s single application.
The following do not qualify as eligible independent components:
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Academic departments of colleges and universities.
Programs, initiatives, and projects of organizations.
Collaboratives or consortiums of multiple organizations.

For example:
•

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An art museum on a university campus serves the general public and does not
grant degrees. The museum board, not the university trustees, manages the
museum's budget, staff, and programming. In this example, the art museum
essentially is a stand-alone organization and qualifies as an independent
component.
A symphony association sponsors a youth orchestra in addition to its professional
orchestra. Some symphony musicians serve as faculty for the youth orchestra;
there is some overlap of membership between the symphony trustees and the

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youth orchestra's advisory board; and the executive director for the symphony
association serves as CEO for both the professional and youth orchestras. In this
case, while the youth orchestra may be an important program of the symphony
association, it is not equivalent to a separate institution and therefore does not
qualify as an independent component.
The application for the eligible independent component must be for a project of the
component. For example, if a university campus submits an application for its art
museum as an independent component, the project must be for the art museum. The art
museum cannot be used as a passthrough entity for projects from other areas of the
university.
The parent organization must meet the eligibility requirements for all applicants. A
related organization that performs grant administration duties for a parent organization
(e.g., a college foundation that administers grants awarded to a college and its
components) may submit applications for components and the parent organization in lieu
of such applications being submitted by the parent. The related organization must meet
the eligibility requirements for all applicants.

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Application Review
The following criteria are considered during the review of applications:
The artistic excellence and artistic merit of the proposal, which includes the:
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Potential to have an immediate impact on the arts workforce.
Relevance of the subgranting program to the organization’s mission, audience,
community, and/or constituency.
Ability to carry out an award as shown by the alignment of the budget and other
resources with the goals and requirements of this funding opportunity, as well as
the applicant’s previous grantmaking experience.
As appropriate, the potential to serve and/or reach individuals whose opportunities
to experience the arts are limited by ethnicity, economics, geography, or disability.

All applications are reviewed by an advisory panel. Panel recommendations are
forwarded to the National Council on the Arts, which then makes recommendations to
the Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. The Chairman reviews the
Council’s recommendations and makes the final decision on all grant awards. Pending
the availability of funding, it is anticipated that applicants will be notified of
recommendation or rejection in TBD.

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Award Administration
Crediting Requirement
Grantees must clearly acknowledge support from the National Endowment for the Arts in
their programs and related promotional material including publications and websites.
Such acknowledgement should clearly indicate that funds were provided for general
operating support and should not be used to indicate support for a project that the
agency has not funded. Additional acknowledgment requirements may be provided later.
Administrative Requirements
Before submitting an application, organizations should review the Administrative
Requirements section of the Grants for Arts Projects guidelines (this Rescue Plan
funding opportunity has the same Administrative Requirements as the Arts Endowment’s
Grants for Arts Projects program) and General Terms & Conditions for detailed
information on legal requirements, financial reviews and audits, and other administrative
matters that pertain to this funding opportunity.
In addition to the requirements described above, grantees will be required to report on
funding received through this program.
Proper documentation must be maintained for all salaries charged, in whole or in part, to
this award per 2 CFR §200.302, .333, .430(I). This includes:
•

Personnel activity (“Time & Effort”) information, which may be established
electronically and made available for review, for any employee whose salary is
charged, in whole or in part, to the award. OMB Uniform Guidance 2 CFR 200.430
(i)(1) Standards for Documentation of Personnel Expenses requires salary and
wage expenses to be based on records that accurately reflect the work
performed. The records must be supported by a system of internal controls which
provide reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, properly
allocated and reflect the total activity for which the employee is compensated.

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For grants that engage artists and/or contractual personnel to whom fees will be
paid, maintain written contracts that outline the employment terms.

Subgranting Reporting:
Subgranting applicants that are recommended for funding will have additional reporting
requirements as grantees, including but not limited to the below. For a complete
understanding of grantee requirements, see the Subgranting Terms and Conditions
resource.
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Require their grantees to provide a Unique Entity Identifier (currently a DUNS)
number before a grant can be made.

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Report subgrants of $35,000 or more in federal funds to the Federal Funding
Accountability and Transparency Act Subaward Reporting System (FSRS).

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Ensure that all subawards made with federal or cost share/matching funds are in
compliance with the General Terms and Conditions for an award from the
National Endowment for the Arts, including requirements for pass-through entities
as provided for under 2 CFR 200.331 and the NHPA/NEPA and accessibility
requirements described below.

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In accordance with the Arts Endowment's enabling legislation, you must include
"artistic excellence and artistic merit" in the review criteria used to make the
subgrant awards (20 USC Sec. 951 et seq.).

National Historic Preservation Act and/or the National Environmental Policy Act
Review
The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, applies to any Federal
funds that support activities that have the potential to impact any structure eligible for or
on the National Register of Historic Places, adjacent to a structure that is eligible for or
on the National Register of Historic Places, or located in a historic district, in accordance
with Section 106. This also applies to planning activities that may affect historic
properties or districts.
If you are recommended for a grant, your proposal may be subject to the National
Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and/or the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
and the Arts Endowment will conduct a review of your project to ensure that it is in
compliance with NHPA/NEPA.
For this funding opportunity, NHPA/NEPA review may be necessary if grants support
artist fees related to public artwork. The Arts Endowment will identify these items to the
extent possible during the pre-award review stage. However, grantees should contact
the Office of Grants Management prior to incurring any costs that they believe might
require a review for compliance. You may be asked to provide additional information on
your project to ensure compliance with the Act at any time during your award period (16
USC 470).
Accessibility
Federal regulations require that all Arts Endowment-funded projects be accessible to
people with disabilities. Funded activities must be held in a physically accessible venue
and program access and effective communication must be provided for participants and
audience members with disabilities. If your project is recommended for funding, you will
be asked to provide detailed information describing how you will make your project
physically and programmatically accessible to people with disabilities.
Project Reporting and Evaluation
Rescue Plan grantees will be required to report out on activities supported through this
program. See here LINK for detailed information.

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Contact Us
Contact us if you have questions. LINK
If you have a question about access for individuals with disabilities:
202-682-5082 Voice/T.T.Y. (Text-Telephone, a device for individuals who are deaf
or hard-of-hearing)
Call or email the Office of Accessibility at 202-682-5532 / [email protected] to
request an accommodation or an alternate format of the guidelines.
Paperwork Reduction Act Statement
The public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated at an average
of 8 hours per response. This includes the time for reviewing instructions, searching
existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and
reviewing the collection of information. We welcome any suggestions that you might
have on improving the guidelines and making them as easy to use as possible. Send
comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of
information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to: [email protected],
attention: Reporting Burden. Note: Applicants are not required to respond to the
collection of information unless it displays a currently valid U.S. Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) control number.
June 2021
OMB No. 3135-TBD Expires TBD
Privacy Act
The following notice is furnished in accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. 552a:
This information is solicited under the authority of the National Foundation on the Arts and the
Humanities Act, 20 U.S.C. 951 et seq. and is used for the purpose of application review. Personal
data including home address and home telephone number will not be released and is exempt from
disclosure under FOIA exemption (b)(6). Failure to provide the requested information could result
in rejection of your application.

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How to Apply
Read these instructions in their entirety before you begin the application process.
Contact us LINK with any questions that you may have.
Submitting an application is a multi-step process:
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Part 1 - Submit to Grants.gov the “Application for Federal Domestic
Assistance/Short Organization Form.” Refer to the Part 1 instructions for important
information and deadlines. This is a brief form that will collect very basic
information about your organization.

•

Part 2: Complete the “Grant Application Form (GAF)” through the Arts
Endowment’s Applicant Portal. This form is where you will enter the majority of
your application material (e.g., project description, timelines, budget information).
Refer to the Part 2 instructions to learn more about how and when to access the
Applicant Portal.

Grants.gov (Part 1) and the Arts Endowment’s Applicant Portal (Part 2) are two separate
online systems.
Part 1 - Submit to Grants.gov

TBD

Prepare application material so that it’s ready to upload when the Applicant Portal
opens
Part 2 - Submit to the Applicant Portal

TBD

Earliest Announcement of Grant Award or Rejection

TBD

Earliest Beginning Date for National Endowment for the Arts
Period of Performance

TBD

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Part 1 - Submit to Grants.gov
Complete and submit the Application for Federal Domestic Assistance/Short
Organizational Form to Grants.gov.
Step 1: Grants.gov and SAM.gov registrations
•

All applicants must have a DUNS number (www.dnb.com) and be registered with
the System for Award Management (SAM, www.sam.gov) at the time of
application. The SAM registration must be current at the time a grant is made and
throughout the life of the award. See Changes Coming for Federal Organizational
Applicants and Awardees for important information.

•

Registration/renewal with SAM.gov and Grants.gov are completely free.

•

To help reduce burden, there will be a 180-day extension for existing SAM
registrations that have expiration dates ranging between April 1, 2021, and
September 30, 2021. This effort is intended as relief for those otherwise required
to re-register during that timeframe. This does not impact entities registering with
SAM for the first time.

•

If your organization is currently registered with SAM, but that registration is not
currently active, you may still apply. Grants.gov will not validate your registration
to confirm that it is current at the time of application. In the meantime, renew your
registration as soon as possible because we still check your SAM and DUNS
registrations before making a grant award.

•

When registering/renewing your SAM account, be sure to select “Yes” when
completing the “Representations & Certifications” section. All awardees are
required to have these representations & certifications in order to receive an
award.

•

Go to Grants.gov's Organization Registration to create a new organization
registration.

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Grants.gov Contact Center: Call 1-800-518-4726, email [email protected],
or consult the information posted on the Grants.gov website at Support. The
Grants.gov Contact Center is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. NOTE:
You must contact Grants.gov for help. Grants.gov is not an Arts Endowment
system and is outside of our control.

•

SAM Federal Service Desk: Call 1-866-606-8220 or see the information posted
on the SAM website at SAM Help. NOTE: You must contact SAM.gov for help.
SAM.gov is not an Arts Endowment system and is outside of our control.

•

Registration in SAM.gov and Grants.gov can take several weeks. Exceptions to
the deadline will be considered only for registration or renewal issues that are the
result of failures on the part of DUNS, SAM, or Grants.gov as determined by the
Arts Endowment.

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Step 2: Go to the Grant Opportunity Package
Access the Grant Opportunity Package with the Application for Federal Domestic
Assistance/Short Organizational Form on Grants.gov by clicking on the link below:
Click Here: Funding Opportunity Number: 2021NEA01ARP60 LINK
When you go to Grants.gov through the link above, the Grants.gov “View Grant
Opportunity” screen will open. Choose “Apply” in the “Action” area. On the next screen,
choose “Apply” again. You will be prompted to enter your Grants.gov Username and
Password.
You will apply using a Grants.gov Workspace. To create a Workspace, look for the
“Application Filing Name” field above the “Create Workspace” button (you must be
logged in as the Authorized Organization Representative or AOR to be able to see this
button and create the Workspace). Enter the legal name of your organization, click the
“Create Workspace” button, and follow the screens from there. Learn more about using
Grants.gov’s Workspace.
See detailed instructions on how to complete and submit the required forms through
Workspace.
You will submit the substantial part of your application during Part 2.
Step 3: Fill out the Application for Federal Domestic Assistance/Short
Organizational Form
All asterisked (*) items and yellow fields on this form are required and must be
completed before you will be able to submit the form. Do not type in all capital letters
when completing the form. Enter information directly into the form. Do not copy from an
old Application for Federal Domestic Assistance/Short Organizational Form or another
document and paste into the form.
Due to restrictions from the Department of Homeland Security we are not able to send
emails to alias addresses that forward to another email account. Do not enter this type of
email address in this form.
1. Name of Federal Agency: Pre-populated.
2. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: Pre-populated.
3. Date Received: This will be filled automatically with the date that you submit your
application; leave blank.
4. Funding Opportunity Number: Pre-populated.
5. Applicant Information:

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a. Legal Name: The name provided here must be the applicant's legal name as it
appears in the current IRS 501(c)(3) status letter or in the official document that identifies
the organization as a unit of state or local government, or as a federally recognized tribal
community or tribe. (Do not use your organization's popular name, if different.)
If you are a parent organization that is applying on behalf of an eligible independent
component, do not list the name of the independent component here. You will be asked
for that information later.
b. Address: Use Street 1 for your organization’s physical street address. This address
should agree with the address that you used with the SAM (System for Award
Management). In addition, use Street 2 for your organization’s mailing address if it differs
from the physical street address. In the Zip/Postal Code box, organizations in the United
States should enter the full 9-digit zip code that was assigned by the U.S. Postal
Service. If you do not know your full zip code, you may look it up
at www.usps.com/zip4/
d. Type of Applicant: Select the item that best characterizes your organization from the
menu in the first drop down box. Additional choices are optional.
e. Employer/Taxpayer Identification Number (EIN/TIN): Enter the 9-digit number that was
assigned by the Internal Revenue Service; do not use a Social Security Number.
f. Organizational DUNS: All organizational applicants for federal funds must have a
DUNS number, which is recognized as the universal standard for identifying
organizations worldwide. The number that you enter here must agree with the
number (either 9 or 13 digits) that you used with the SAM (System for Award
Management) as part of the Grants.gov registration. Otherwise, your SF-424 will
not be validated by Grants.gov and will be rejected. Confirm your DUNS with
SAM.gov before filling out this form.
g. Congressional District: Enter the number of the Congressional District where the
applicant organization is located. The Congressional District that you enter here must
agree with the Congressional District that you used with the SAM (System for Award
Management) as part of the Grants.gov registration. Use the following format: 2character State Abbreviation-3 character District Number. For example, if your
organization is located in the 5th Congressional District of California, enter "CA-005." If
your state has a single At-Large Representative or your territory has a single Delegate,
enter your 2-character state/territory abbreviation and "-000." If you need help
determining your district, go to www.house.gov and use the "Find Your Representative"
tool.
6. Project Information:
a. Project Title: Enter “N/A.” Anything you enter here in Grants.gov will not be used in the
review of your application.

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b. Project Description: Enter “N/A.” Anything you enter here in Grants.gov will not be
used in the review of your application.
c. Proposed Project Start Date/End Date: Enter the beginning and ending dates for your
requested period of performance, i.e., the span of time necessary to plan, execute, and
close out your proposed project. The start date should be the first day of the month, and
the end date should be the last day of the month. Our support of a project may start on
or after TBD. Generally, a grant period of up to two years is allowed. Your budget should
include only the activities and costs incurred during the requested period of performance.
7. Project Director:
Provide the requested information for the Project Director. Provide contact information,
including an email address, that will be valid through the announcement date for your
category.
8. Primary Contact/Grant Administrator:
Provide the requested information for the individual who should be contacted on all
matters involving this application and the administration of any grant that may be
awarded. For colleges and universities, this person is often a Sponsored Research,
Sponsored Programs, or Contracts and Grants Officer. For the Telephone number field,
use the following format: 000-000-0000.
In some organizations, particularly smaller ones, this individual may be the same as the
Project Director. If this is the case, you may check the "Same as Project Director" box
and not repeat information that you have already provided in Item 7. (If the Primary
Contact/Grant Administrator is the same as the Authorizing Official, complete all items
under both 8 and 9 even though there will be some repetition.)
9. Authorized Representative:
Enter the requested information for the AOR (Authorized Organization Representative)
who is authorized to submit this application to Grants.gov. The AOR must have the legal
authority to obligate your organization (e. g., be a senior member of the staff such as an
Executive Director, Director of Development). See specific requirements for who can
serve as an AOR for colleges and universities. Contractors, including grant writers or
grant consultants, or administrative support staff cannot serve as an AOR.
NOTE: By clicking the "I Agree" box at the top of Item 9, this individual will be certifying
compliance with relevant federal requirements on your organization's behalf. (These
requirements can be found in the "Assurance of Compliance" section of the Grants for
Arts Projects guidelines.) The "Signature of Authorized Representative" and "Date
Signed" boxes will be populated by Grants.gov upon submission of the application.

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Step 4: Submit your application to Grants.gov
•

•

•

To begin the submission process, log on to Grants.gov and go to the Forms tab
on the Manage Workspace page. Click the “Sign and Submit” button, under the
Forms tab.
Be certain that you are satisfied with your Application for Federal Domestic
Assistance/Short Organizational Form before you click this button. No revisions to
your form can be made in Grants.gov once it is submitted.
Once you complete and submit your application, you will see a confirmation
screen explaining that your submission is being processed. Take a screenshot
and retain the Grants.gov Tracking Number that you receive in the application
submission confirmation screen.

•

If you wait until the day of the deadline to submit your application, you are
taking a significant risk! Give yourself ample time to resolve any problems you
might encounter.

•

We will not accept late applications. The only exceptions are for a technological
failure on the part of Grants.gov or in the event of a major emergency (e.g.,
hurricane, natural disaster, etc.), as determined by the Arts Endowment. If a
deadline is extended for any reason, an announcement will be posted on our
website.
You must provide documentation of a Grants.gov technological failure to be
considered for an exception. We will consider and address your situation as
appropriate. We will not make exceptions for applications that are the result of
user error, including failure to verify that your application was validated by the
Grants.gov system through Track My Application.

•

Failure to successfully submit the Application for Federal Domestic
Assistance/Short Organizational Form through Grants.gov will make you ineligible
to complete Part 2 of the application process.

Step 5: Track Your Application
•

Verify that your application was validated by the Grants.gov system. Go to Track
My Application to confirm the validation and track the progress of your
application submission through Grants.gov. Take a screenshot of your validation
confirmation for your records. Do not wait until the day of the deadline to verify
your submission in case you encounter any difficulties.

Part 2: Submit to Applicant Portal
Prepare to Complete Part 2
•

Read the Part 2 instructions LINK (PDF). This document will guide you through
Part 2 of the application process, including information about how and when to

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access the Applicant Portal as well as the application questions and requirements.
You must refer to the Part 2 instructions (PDF)
You will not have access to the Applicant Portal until the Part 2 application
window of TBD. However, we urge you to use this document to prepare your
responses well in advance so you will have them ready to upload once the system
opens.
We recommend that you begin working in the Applicant Portal early in the
application window to give yourself ample time to complete the process. Please
note that these grants are NOT awarded on a “first come, first served” basis, so
you should feel comfortable taking your time.